Cooking appliance

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance including a valve holder assembly for preventing movement of a valve. The cooking appliance includes a main body including a heating part, a valve positioned at least partially inside the main body to supply fuel to the heating part, and a knob unit coupled to the main body to regulate the degree of opening and closing of the valve, wherein the knob unit includes an operating part provided on a front surface of the main body to be operable and to which the valve is coupled at least partially, and a valve holder assembly positioned at the rear of the operating part, and the valve holder assembly includes a valve holder configured to allow a portion of the valve to pass therethrough, a valve holder casing configured to receive the valve holder, and an elastic member provided on the valve holder casing and configured to contact the valve holder to prevent movement of the valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 of International Application No.PCT/KR2017/014213 filed on Dec. 6, 2017, which claims priority to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2017-0000958 filed on Jan. 3, 2017, thedisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance, and moreparticularly, to a cooking appliance that improves the couplingstructure of a valve to prevent a valve from moving.

2. Description of Related Art

There may be various types of cooking appliance, but an oven range inwhich an oven and a cooktop are combined will be described to explainthe present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto and is also applicable to a range including only a cooktop.

An oven range includes a cabinet-shaped main body. An oven is providedinside the main body, and a cooktop having at least one heating part isprovided on the top of the main body. Electricity or gas is used as afuel for heating food to be cooked.

In the case of the oven range, a control panel is provided on either thefront or the top surface of the main body.

A plurality of buttons, a keypad, a knob unit, and the like may beprovided on the control panel to set a cooking mode desired by a user orset various conditions required for cooking. The control panel mayinclude a display to allow the user to check the currently set cookingmode, cooking condition, cooking progress, and the like.

In particular, when the knob unit is located on the control panel, theuser may regulate the operation of the main body by rotating the knobunit. Because a coupling shaft of a valve coupled to the knob unit isrotated in the process in which the user rotates the knob unit, the knobunit may be shaken. Also, due to a weight of the knob unit, the knobunit may be tilted downward.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to providing a cooking appliance inwhich the coupling structure of a knob unit is improved to maintain theconcentricity of the knob unit and prevent shaking.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a cooking applianceincluding a main body including a heating part, a valve positioned atleast partially inside the main body to supply fuel to the heating part,and a knob unit coupled to the main body to regulate the degree ofopening and closing of the valve, wherein the knob unit includes anoperating part provided on a front surface of the main body to beoperable and to which the valve is coupled at least partially, a valveholder positioned at the rear of the operating part and configured toallow a portion of the valve to pass therethrough, a valve holder casingconfigured to receive the valve holder, and an elastic member providedon the valve holder casing and configured to contact the valve holder toprevent movement of the valve.

A plurality of the elastic members may be provided to contact the valveholder at a plurality of points to prevent movement of the valve holder.

The elastic members may be provided to contact opposite sides of thevalve holder.

The valve holder casing may include an opening provided in a shapecorresponding to the valve holder to receive the valve holder.

The valve may include a valve body and a coupling shaft extending fromthe valve body, and the coupling shaft may be coupled to the knob unitby passing through the main body.

The valve holder may be provided with a valve holder hole through whichthe coupling shaft passes to prevent movement of the coupling shaft.

The knob unit further may include a sensing member coupled to the valveholder casing and configured to contact the valve holder to detectwhether or not the valve is in operation.

The elastic member may be positioned in a first direction of the valveholder casing and the sensing member may be positioned in a seconddirection different from the first direction of the valve holder casing.

The elastic member may contact a first surface of the valve holder andthe sensing member may contact a second surface of the valve holder, andthe first surface may be located in the front of the valve holderfurther than the second surface.

The second surface of the valve holder may be provided with a groove todetect the rotation of the valve holder according to the operation ofthe valve.

The main body may include a control panel on which the knob unit isdisposed.

The valve holder casing may be coupled to the control panel.

The knob unit may further include a seat member in which the valveholder casing is seated and a decorative member surrounding an outersurface of the seat member.

The valve holder casing may be coupled to the control panel by beingcoupled to the seat member.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a cooking applianceincluding a main body including a heating part, an operating part toregulate fuel supply to the heating part, a valve supplying fuel to theheating part and including a coupling shaft coupled to the operatingpart, a valve holder positioned at the rear of the operating part andconfigured to allow the coupling shaft to pass therethrough, and a valveholder casing configured to receive the valve holder and fixing thevalve holder to be movable between a first point and a second pointdifferent from the first point in order to prevent movement of thecoupling shaft, wherein the coupling shaft passes through the valveholder to be coupled to the operating part.

The valve holder casing may include a first elastic member coupled tothe first point and a second elastic member coupled to the second point.

The cooking appliance may further include a sensing member coupled tothe valve holder casing and configured to detect whether or not thevalve is in operation by contacting the valve holder and sensing theoperation of the valve holder that is rotated according to the rotationof the coupling shaft.

The first elastic member and the second elastic member may contact afirst surface of the valve holder, and the sensing member may contact asecond surface of the valve holder positioned further forward than thefirst surface.

The main body may include a control panel in which the operating part isdisposed on the front surface thereof, and the valve holder casing maybe coupled to the control panel.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a cooking applianceincluding a main body that includes a heating part, an operating part tooperate the heating part, and a control panel on which the operatingpart is disposed, a valve supplying fuel to the heating part andincluding a coupling shaft coupled to the operating part, and a valveholder assembly positioned at the rear of the operating part andconfigured to allow the coupling shaft to pass therethrough, wherein thevalve holder assembly fixes the coupling shaft at a first point and asecond point different from the first point to prevent movement of thecoupling shaft.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the shaking of aknob unit with respect to a control panel and the deviation of theconcentricity of the knob unit in one direction can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a knob unit according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the knob unit according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a valve holder assembly according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state where a valve is coupled to thevalve holder assembly according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the valve holder assembly according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the valve holder assembly according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, in which a valve holder casing isremoved.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a knob unit according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state where a valve is coupled to avalve holder assembly according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating a state in which the valveholder assembly and the valve according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure are disassembled.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the valve holder assembly according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, an ovenrange including an oven will be described as an example, but theembodiments of the present disclosure is applicable when a control panelis applied to a cooking appliance not including an oven.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a cooking appliance 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include an oven and a cooktop.The cooktop may be positioned on a top surface of a main body 10 and theoven may be positioned on a front surface of the main body 10. A cavity(not shown) is formed inside the oven to accommodate food to be cookedand to allow cooking to proceed.

At least a portion of the main body 10 may be provided with a controlpanel 11 to operate the oven and the cooktop. According to an embodimentof the present disclosure, the control panel 11 may be provided toprotrude from an upper portion of the main body 10. The control panel 11may be provided with a knob unit 50 for operating the cooktop and theoven. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, four of theknob units 50 may be provided. The control panel 11 may be provided witha display 41 to display the operation states of the oven and thecooktop. Also, the control panel 11 may be provided with operationbuttons 42 for more precisely controlling the operation of the cooktopand the oven.

The top surface of the main body 10 may be provided with the cooktop.The cooktop includes a heating part 13 for heating food to be cooked.The heating part 13 is operated by receiving fuel, and electricity orgas may be used as the fuel.

The oven may be provided below the cooktop. The oven may include a door20 to selectively open or close a front surface of the cavity. The door20 may be provided with a window 22 through which the cavity may be seenso that the cooking state of the food accommodated in the cavity may bevisually observed. The door 20 may be also provided with a handle 21that may be grasped by the user for opening and closing the door 20.

A storage chamber for storing the cooking utensil and the like may beprovided below the oven. The storage chamber may be opened and closed bya drawer 31 which is slidably drawn in and drawn out. The drawer 31 maybe provided with a handle 32.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a knob unit according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view ofthe knob unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the knob unit 50 is coupled to a valve60 that supplies fuel to the heating part 13. The valve 60 includes acoupling shaft 62 extending from a valve body 61 and the coupling shaft62 may be coupled to at least a part of the knob unit 50.

The knob unit 50 includes an operating part 51 provided on the frontsurface of the main body 10, and a valve holder assembly 54 positionedin the rear of the operating part 51 and configured to allow a portionof the valve 60 to pass therethrough.

The operating part 51 that is provided on the front surface of the mainbody 10 is provided such that a user may adjust the degree of openingand closing of the valve 60. The user may regulate the supply of fuel tothe heating part 13 and the amount of fuel by opening and closing thevalve 60 by the operation of the operating part 51. The operating part51 may include an operating part body 51 c, a grasping portion 51 aextending to protrude from the operating part body 51 c to be grasped bya user, and a coupling groove 51 b provided to couple the coupling shaft62 of the valve 60. The coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60 may beinserted into the coupling groove 51 b and coupled to the operatingportion 51. Accordingly, when the user rotates the operating part 51,the coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60 coupled to the coupling groove 51b rotates together with the operating part 51 so that the valve 60 maybe opened or closed.

The knob unit 50 includes the valve holder assembly 54 for fixing thecoupling shaft 62 to prevent the movement of the coupling shaft 62 ofthe valve 60. The valve holder assembly 54 includes a valve holder 56configured to allow a portion of the valve 60 to pass therethrough, anda valve holder casing 55 configured to receive the valve holder 56. Thecoupling shaft 62 of the valve 60 is coupled to the operating part 51 bypassing through a valve holder hole 56 a provided in the valve holder56. The specific configuration of the valve holder assembly 54 will bedescribed later.

The knob unit 50 may further include a seat member 52 in which the valveholder casing 55 is seated, and a decorative member 53 surrounding anouter surface of the seat member 52. The seat member 52 may be providedwith a seat part hole 52 a through which the coupling shaft 62 of thevalve 60 passes. A light emitting part (not shown) that emits light whenthe knob unit 50 is operated may be seated in the seat member 52.

The valve holder assembly 54, in which the valve holder 56 is receivedin the valve holder casing 55, may be coupled to the seat member 52. Theseat member 52, to which the valve holder assembly 54 and the decorativemember 53 are coupled, may be coupled to the control panel 11 throughfastening members 70. However, the present disclosure is limitedthereto, and the valve holder assembly 54, in which the valve holder 56is received in the valve holder casing 55, may be directly coupled tothe control panel 11 without the seat member 52. The control panel 11may include a seat part coupling portion 11 b provided with an openingto couple the seat member 52. Also, fastening member coupling holes 11 amay be provided on upper and lower portions of the seat part couplingportion 11 b to couple the fastening members 70.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a valve holder assembly according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5 is a view illustrating astate where a valve is coupled to the valve holder assembly according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofthe valve holder assembly according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 7 is a top view of the valve holder assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a valveholder casing is removed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, the valve holder assembly 54 includesthe valve holder 56 through which the coupling shaft 63 of the valve 60passes, and the valve holder casing 55 to receive the valve holder 56.

The valve holder hole 56 a through which the coupling shaft 62 of thevalve 60 passes may be provided on the valve holder 56. The valve holderhole 56a may be provided at a central axis of the valve holder 56. Thevalve holder 56 may be provided with holes 56 b for fluidity in moldingthe valve holder 56 in addition to the valve holder holes 56 a.

An opening 55 b may be provided on the valve holder casing 55 to receivethe valve holder 56. Elastic members 57 and 58 configured to contact thevalve holder 56 at a plurality of points may be provided in the valveholder casing 55 to prevent the movement of the valve 60. The elasticmembers 57 and 58 may be in contact with the valve holder 56 at a firstpoint PA and may be in contact with the valve holder 56 at a secondpoint PB different from the first point PA. According to an embodimentof the present disclosure, the elastic members 57 and 58 and the valveholder 56 are in contact with each other at two points, but not limitedthereto, and the elastic members 57 and 58 and the valve holder 56 maybe in contact with each other at a plurality of points. The first pointPA and the second point PB may be provided at positions opposite to eachother.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the elasticmembers 57 and 58 may include two of the first elastic member 57 and thesecond elastic member 58, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. The first elastic member 57 and the second elastic member 58may be coupled to opposite sides of the valve holder casing 55,respectively, but not limited thereto. As an example, the first elasticmember 57 and the second elastic member 58 may be coupled to upper andlower portions of the valve holder casing 55, respectively. The firstelastic member 57 and the second elastic member 58 may be formed in aplate spring shape. The first elastic member 57 and the second elasticmember 58 may have bent portions 57 a and 58 a bent in the direction ofthe valve holder 56 so as to be in contact with the valve holder 56,respectively. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, thebent portions 57 a and 58 a may be provided at a central portion of thefirst and second elastic members 57 and 58.

The valve holder casing 55 may be provided with a first receiving groove55 c and a second receiving groove 55 d for receiving the first elasticmember 57 and the second elastic member 58, respectively. The firstreceiving groove 55 c and the second receiving groove 55 d may be formedin a shape corresponding to the first elastic member 57 and the secondelastic member 58. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,because the first elastic member 57 and the second elastic member 58 arecoupled to the opposite sides of the valve holder casing 55, the firstreceiving groove 55 c and the second receiving groove 55 d may beprovided at the opposite sides of the valve holder casing 55. Becausethe first and second elastic members 57 and 58 contact the valve holder56 at the first point PA and the second point PB, the valve holder 56 ismovable between the first point PA and the second point PB whilepreventing the valve holder 56 from deviating from the first point PAand the second point PB. Accordingly, the coupling shaft 62 of the valve60 passing through the valve holder 56 does not deviate from the firstpoint PA and the second point PB so that the coupling shaft 62 of thevalve 60 may be prevented from being shaken out of a certain range. Inaddition, the concentricity of the knob unit 50 may be maintained.

The valve holder casing 55 may be provided with a sensing member 59configured to contact the valve holder 56 and sense the operation of thevalve 60. The sensing member 59 may detect whether or not the valve 60is in operation by sensing the operation of the valve holder 56 that isrotated according to the rotation of the coupling shaft 62 of the valve60. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensingmember 59 is coupled to an upper portion of the valve holder casing 55,but not limited thereto, and may be coupled to a side of the valveholder casing 55. The valve holder casing 55 is provided with a thirdreceiving groove 55 e to receive the sensing member 59, and the thirdreceiving groove 55 e may be formed in a shape corresponding to thesensing member 59. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,when the sensing member 59 is coupled to the upper portion of the valveholder casing 55, a rib 55 f may be provided to fix the sensing member59.

The sensing member 59 may be provided with a bent portion 59 a forcontact with the valve holder 56. The valve holder 56 may be providedwith a groove 56 e having a shape corresponding to the bent portion 59 aof the sensing member 59. The valve holder 56 is rotated according tothe rotation of the coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60, and thus the usermay recognize the rotation of the valve 60 by the sound and tactilefeeling generated when the groove 56 e of the valve holder 56 contactsthe bent portion 59 a of the sensing member 59.

The first and second elastic members 57 and 58 may be positioned in afirst direction of the valve holder casing 55 and the sensing member 59may be positioned in a second direction different from the firstdirection of the valve holder casing 55. That is, when the first andsecond elastic members 57 and 58 are coupled in the vertical directionwith respect to the valve holder casing 55, the sensing member 59 may becoupled in the horizontal direction of the valve holder casing 55, andthe opposite is also possible.

The valve holder 56 may include a first surface 56 c and a secondsurface 56 d. The first surface 56 c may be positioned in the front ofthe valve holder 56 further than the second surface 56 d. That is, theminimum distance between the first surface 56 c of the valve holder 56and the valve holder hole 56 a is smaller than the minimum distancebetween the second surface 56 d of the valve holder 56 and the valveholder hole 56 a. The first and second elastic members 58 and 59 maycontact the first surface 56 c of the valve holder 56. The sensingmember 59 may contact the second surface 56 d of the valve holder 56.The groove 56 e for contacting the sensing member 59 may be provided onthe second surface 56 d.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a knob unit according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 9 is a view illustratinga state where a valve is coupled to a valve holder assembly according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the valve 60 includes the couplingshaft 62 extending from the valve body 61 and the coupling shaft 62 maybe coupled to at least a part of the knob unit 50.

The knob unit 50 includes the operating part 51 provided on the frontsurface of the main body 10, and a valve holder assembly 150 positionedin the rear of the operating part 51 and configured to allow a portionof the valve 60 to pass therethrough.

The operating part 51 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the same as theoperating part illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and thus a descriptionthereof will be omitted.

The valve holder assembly 150 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a head part 151 coupled to the coupling shaft 62and body parts 152 and 153 to which the head part 151 is coupled.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating a state in which the valveholder assembly and the valve according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure are disassembled, and FIG. 11 is an exploded view ofthe valve holder assembly according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the body parts 152 and 153 of thevalve holder assembly 150 may be composed of two body parts which arethe first body part 152 and the second body part 153. A body partpositioned at the front of the valve holder assembly 150 is defined asthe first body part 152 and a body part coupled to the rear of the firstbody part 152 is defined as the second body part 153.

The first body part 152 may be provided with an opening 152 b to allowthe head part 151 to protrude therethrough. The head part 151 may passthrough the opening 152 b of the first body part 152 to be coupled tothe first body part 152. The second body part 153 may be inserted intothe opening 151 b of the head part 151. The second body part 153 mayinclude a boss 153 b protruding forward. The boss 153 b may be insertedinto the opening 151 b of the head part 151. The coupling shaft 62 ofthe valve 60 is inserted into a hole 153 c of the boss 153 b of thesecond body part 153 and passes through the opening 151 b of the headpart 151, so that the coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60 may be coupledto the valve holder assembly 150.

The second body part 153 may be provided with a seat portion 153 g toseat the head part 151. The boss 153 b may be provided to extend from abase 153 a of the second body part 153, and the seat portion 153 g maybe formed in a stepped shape between the boss 153 b and the base 153 ato seat a coupling portion 151 d of the head part 151, which will bedescribed later.

The head part 151 may include the coupling portion 151 d provided tosurround the boss 153 b of the second body part 153. The head part 151may also include a separation preventing portion 151 c to prevent thehead part 151 from separating from the opening 152 b of the first bodypart 152. The separation preventing portion 151 c may be provided toprotrude in a circumferential direction with respect to the couplingportion 151 d of the head part 151. The head part 151 may include aprotruding portion 151 a provided to protrude with respect to the firstbody part 152 to surround the coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60. Theseparation preventing portion 151 c may be provided at a boundarybetween the protruding portion 151 a and the coupling portion 151 d.Because the cross sectional area of the separation preventing portion151 c is provided to be larger than the cross sectional area of theprotruding portion 151 a and the coupling portion 151 d and the crosssectional area of the opening 152 b of the first body part 152, the headpart 151 may be prevented from being separated from the opening 152 b ofthe first body part 152.

The second body part 153 may be provided with body part ribs 153 e and153 f for coupling with the first body part 152. According to anembodiment of the present disclosure, one of the body part rib 153 e isprovided on opposite sides of the second body part 153, respectively,and two of the body part ribs 153 f are provided on upper and lowerportions of the second body part 153, respectively, but the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. The first body part 152 may beprovided with body part coupling grooves 152 a and 152 c for couplingwith the second body part 153 corresponding to the respective body partribs 153 e and 153 f. Accordingly, one of the body part coupling groove152 c is provided on opposite sides of the first body part 152,respectively, and two of the body part coupling grooves 152 a areprovided on upper and lower portions of the first body part 152,respectively.

At least one boss coupling groove 153 d provided in a longitudinaldirection along the inner surface of the boss 153 b may be providedinside the boss hole 153 c of the second body part 153. According to anembodiment of the present disclosure, a total of four of the bosscoupling grooves 153 d may be provided, but the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. Also, the coupling portion 151 c of the head part151 may be provided with a head part rib 151 d provided to be fitted inthe boss coupling groove 153 d of the boss 153 b. The shape and thenumber of the head part ribs 151 e may correspond to the shape and thenumber of the boss coupling grooves 153 d. Because the head part rib 151e is fitted in the boss coupling groove 153 d so that the head part 151and the second body part 153 are coupled with each other, the head part151 and the boss 153 b may be stably coupled with each other so that theshaking of the coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60 passing through thesecond body part 153 and the head part 151 may be reduced.

The coupling shaft 62 of the valve 60 may be coupled to the operatingpart 51 by passing through the head part 151 through the second bodypart 153. The head part 151 of the valve holder assembly 150 may becoupled to the second body part 153. The head part 151 may be providedto protrude with respect to the front surface of the first and secondbody parts 152 and 153. Therefore, the area where the coupling shaft 62of the valve 60 is fixed may be increased as compared with theconventional one, and thus the shaking of the coupling shaft 62 of thevalve 60 may be prevented.

While the present disclosure has been particularly described withreference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood by those ofskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

1. A cooking appliance comprising: a main body including a heating part;a valve positioned at least partially inside the main body to supplyfuel to the heating part; and a knob unit coupled to the main body toregulate the degree of opening and closing of the valve, wherein theknob unit includes: an operating part provided on a front surface of themain body to be operable and to which the valve is coupled at leastpartially; a valve holder positioned at the rear of the operating partand configured to allow a portion of the valve to pass therethrough; avalve holder casing configured to receive the valve holder; and anelastic member provided on the valve holder casing and configured tocontact the valve holder to prevent movement of the valve.
 2. Thecooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of theelastic members is provided to contact the valve holder at a pluralityof points to prevent movement of the valve holder.
 3. The cookingappliance according to claim 2, wherein the elastic members are providedto contact opposite sides of the valve holder.
 4. The cooking applianceaccording to claim 1, wherein the valve holder casing includes anopening provided in a shape corresponding to the valve holder to receivethe valve holder.
 5. The cooking appliance according to claim 4, whereinthe valve includes a valve body and a coupling shaft extending from thevalve body, and the coupling shaft is coupled to the knob unit bypassing through the main body.
 6. The cooking appliance according toclaim 5, wherein the valve holder is provided with a valve holder holethrough which the coupling shaft passes to prevent movement of thecoupling shaft.
 7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, whereinthe knob unit further includes a sensing member coupled to the valveholder casing and configured to contact the valve holder to detectwhether or not the valve is in operation.
 8. The cooking applianceaccording to claim 7, wherein the elastic member is positioned in afirst direction of the valve holder casing and the sensing member ispositioned in a second direction different from the first direction ofthe valve holder casing.
 9. The cooking appliance according to claim 7,wherein the elastic member contacts a first surface of the valve holderand the sensing member contacts a second surface of the valve holder,and the first surface is located in the front of the valve holderfurther than the second surface.
 10. The cooking appliance according toclaim 9, wherein the second surface of the valve holder is provided witha groove to detect the rotation of the valve holder according to theoperation of the valve.
 11. The cooking appliance according to claim 1,wherein the main body includes a control panel on which the knob unit isdisposed.
 12. The cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein thevalve holder casing is coupled to the control panel.
 13. The cookingappliance according to claim 11, wherein the knob unit further includesa seat member in which the valve holder casing is seated and adecorative member surrounding an outer surface of the seat member. 14.The cooking appliance according to claim 13, wherein the valve holdercasing is coupled to the control panel by being coupled to the seatmember.